100-year-old Douglas Hammersley, from Surrey, appears at Amersham Law Court accused of High Wycombe sex attacks

White-haired Douglas Hammersley arrived at court in a wheelchair and was allowed to sit outside the dock for the short hearing.

Judge Francis Sheridan is set to rule whether the centenarian, who is accused of sexually assaulting a young girl in the High Wycombe area, is too old to plead.

Frail looking Hammersley was charged with three counts of indecent assault against a girl under 14 years but sat in his wheelchair in the middle of the courtroom as his case was heard.

All of the charges relate to the same girl with the counts alleged to have taken place between 1979 and 1979.

The 100-year-old, dressed in a grey suit and wearing a grey scarf around his face, had been due to enter a plea at Amersham Law Courts on Friday but the hearing was adjourned to allow experts to determine whether or not he is fit to plead.

The pensioner, who has lived through two world wars and is 10 years and a day older than the Queen, looked unperturbed as he was wheeled into the courtroom but shook his head as proceedings got underway.

A decision was expected to be heard on March 31 at Aylesbury Crown Court, 27 days before his 101st birthday, although Hammersley was not ordered to attend that hearing.

Judge Sheridan said: "I can see there is a problem. The problem is whether this man is fit to stand trial.

"He must co-operate and attend any examination that he is required to. Please bear in mind his age and please bear in mind his travel arrangements."

He added: "If both experts say he is unfit then it would be too much for him to come on the 31st. If all the experts says he is fit to stand realistically we can excuse the defendant from appearing on the 31st."

Hammersley, who used hearing aids in the court lives in Cotsford Avenue, New Malden, Surrey.